Implement for shocking indian corn and other grain



V (NOModel.) '2 Shets-Sheen 1.

T. G. CONKLING. IMPLEME-NT FOR SHOGKING INDIAN CORN AND OTHER GRAIN.

No. 285,395.. Patented sept-25, 1833.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. e. GONKLING.

IMPLEMENTIOR SHOGKING INDIAN CORN AND OTHER GRAIN. No. 285,395.

Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

N. PETERS Phalwmhogmmer. whinglu". n. l;

NiTiED STATES trice.

PATENT- THEODORE G. OONKLING, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part ef Letters Patent No. 285,895, dated september 25, 1883. Application filed December 2, 1882. (No nodel.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THEonoRn G. CONKLING, of Logansport, Cass county, Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Implement for Shocking Indian Corn and other Grain, of which the following is aspeciiication.

My invention rrelates to a portable implement to facilitate the putting Indian corn and other grain into secure and properly-formed shocks in the field. 4

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top view of my shocker in condition to receive the grain. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the implement after stacking of the grain, engagement of the tightening-cord,withdrawal of the cross-rod, and partial winding of the tightening-spindle. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the sockets with twine-box and severingeknife and portions of the legs. Fig. 4t representsa portion of the tightening-spindle with twine-catch. Fig. 5 shows the spindle in crosssection,with the cross-stick and a portion of the tightening-cord in profile. Fig. Gis a sectional view to show attachment of one of the legs within its mortise. Fig. 7 is a vertical section, showing the implement adapted for binding corn-fodder, (tops. 7 Fig. 8 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 7.

A A are two indentically-shaped stands or trestles. Each stand comprises a castiron socket, B, whose downwardly-oblique mortises C receive wooden legs D,which are secured in said mortises by means of riveted pins E. One socket (or both sockets) has also a pair of cheeks or additional mortise, C', on its side, for reception of a lateral oblique leg, stay, or strut, D,

to prevent lateral sway of the implement and to hold it to its proper erect position. Each socket B has a vertical orifice, F, for reception of staff G, which, having been shifted to any desired height in the stand, is secured to that the shaft, as at o, its knotted or enlarged other end, o being capable of engagement in the keyhole-formed slotted platel or cord-catch, P.

The shaft K -has a flattened portion, k, at or near its mid-length, to receive the cranked portion q of cross-rod Q.

Secured to socket Bis abox, B, tohold twine S. Also, secured to socket B is a knife, T, as represented, whosepoint is pressed normally against the stand by means of spring U.

The implement is operated as follows: The two stands A, with the shaft K, being so placed upon the ground as to bring the flattened por` tion k of the shaft vertically over the center of the site of the intended shock, and the crossrod Q being in position as seen' in Fig. 1, the implement is now ready to receive Vthe grain or fodder, which is stacked in four equal portions in the four re-entrant angles X, formed by the cross-rod Q and shaft K. The cord O being now brought around the grain, its knotted end o is engaged in the slot 1J of catch P, and the cross-rod Q is withdrawn. The operator then, grasping thc crank L, rotates the shaft K, so as to wind the cord Oupon it, and by so doing to draw or bunch the grain compactly together, as shown in Fig. 2,which puts'V it in condition to be properly bound by the twine, of which a sufficient quantity, being drawn out of thevboX and cut loose by engagement with the knife T, is wound around the grain and tied. The stand nearest the operating-crank L, together with the windingshaft K, is then drawn away from the shock and from the other stand, and the parts reunited for use in forming another shock, and so on in succession until the work is done.

For binding corn tops, the bearings J are shifted to the lower portions of the staves, as seen in Figs. 7 and S, so as to enable the bindi ing to be effected nearer to the butts.

The above is a time and labor saving machine. V

Shocks that are well formed arehandled easier, in less time, and are not liable to break loose. In some parts of the country itis customary to move the shocks-into rows and sow grain between. v Vhen shocked by this machine, they can be moved by simply running a stick through the shock and two men shouldering it, thus saving the use of horses.

The device enables the cutting and shocking ion d of corn with it in high winds when it cannot be done in the ordinary way. rlhe operator has a frame adjustable to the hcight of the corn, with four right-angle corners, in which to place the stalks when cutand support them properly in forming a perfect shock.

Having completed the cutting7 &e., the process of binding draws the grain or stalks together in a perfect form, not leaning to one side or the other, s o compact as to bend and break the stalks so much that when the hands are properly applied storms will not penetrate, and nothing less than a hurricane will blow the shocks over. The shocks being well formed and tightly bound, the stalks are much better preserved, the ears are kept from the ground, and do not get watcr-soz'lkcd and become worthless, as occurs to corn that has been poorly shocked or bound.

I claim as new and ol' my inventionl. The grain-shocking implement compris! ing two stands,pA, having vertical staVes or posts Gr, carrying bearings J for a horizontal shaft or spindle, K, having lattened portion k for removable cross-rod Q, and being provided with ratchet mechanism M N, and with cord O, having loop o, which confines one end of it to the said shaft, and having a knot or button, o, at its free end yfor engagement in slotted catch P on the shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with stand A and post G, the vertically-adjnstable bearing J for windershaft K. l: Y

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

THEODORE G. CONKLING.

Attest:

GEo. H. KNIGHT, SAM): S. CARPENTER. 

